“The current inspection regime measures process and not practice,” he said. “There’s nothing about improvement in [the inspection process] or how it can be used to ensure improvement takes place.”

Bromley-Derry’s comments came days after he criticised Ofsted at the National Children and Adult Services Conference in Harrogate.

However, Ofsted has hit back by claiming it has had regular meetings with the ADCS. A spokeswoman said it was “disappointed” with Bromley-Derry’s views.

“We have to say that their criticisms don’t accord with what we are being told by the people on the ground who have actually experienced our inspections,” she said.

Bromley-Derry said there needed to be more peer inspections, claiming that many inspectors had not worked in children’s services and social workers could be far more challenging and insightful on what it takes to improve practice.

“We are offering to be involved but it doesn’t have to be us, although some directors of children’s services should be involved,” he added.

But Ofsted said it had already invited directors to nominate senior and experienced staff to take part in inspections. It also maintained that all inspectors involved in unannounced inspections were qualified social workers.

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